Scalia dies on quail hunting trip

[The Romulan Republic]

Is there a possibility that as a final fuck you to the Republicans Obama can let them hold up the nomination then if Bernie or Clinton gets in as President they nominate Obama?

There's no reason that Obama couldn't get put on the Supreme Court (if you can ignore his terrible track record on human rights), but there's nothing that would obligate Clinton or Bernie to put him on there. Plus there's always the outside possibility of a Trump win. The safest bet is to nominate someone as fast as possible.

While Obama would not be my first choice by a long shot (NSA and drone-related concerns, mainly), a part of me would take a certain sadistic glee in watching the impotent horror of the far Right at realizing Obama is going to be interpreting the Constitution for the next... oh, giving his relatively young age for an ex-President, maybe 30 years or so, minimum.

Edit: As to how likely it is, I doubt Bernie would nominate Obama, but Hillary Clinton has suggested she might (though I'm not sure how serious she is).

[General Zod]

Is there a possibility that as a final fuck you to the Republicans Obama can let them hold up the nomination then if Bernie or Clinton gets in as President they nominate Obama?

There's no reason that Obama couldn't get put on the Supreme Court (if you can ignore his terrible track record on human rights), but there's nothing that would obligate Clinton or Bernie to put him on there. Plus there's always the outside possibility of a Trump win. The safest bet is to nominate someone as fast as possible.

While Obama would not be my first choice by a long shot (NSA and drone-related concerns, mainly), a part of me would take a certain sadistic glee in watching the impotent horror of the far Right at realizing Obama is going to be interpreting the Constitution for the next... oh, giving his relatively young age for an ex-President, maybe 30 years or so, minimum.

Edit: As to how likely it is, I doubt Bernie would nominate Obama, but Hillary Clinton has suggested she might (though I'm not sure how serious she is).

Obama basically shot the idea down anyway.

[Elheru Aran]

Most Presidents are more than happy to stay the fuck out of government after they retire. A few have gone back into it to some degree (Grover Cleveland probably being the most ironic example) but most just plonk their ass down on the ranch, stay quiet for a few years, and then release their memoir and start shaking hands on the campaign trail for whatever candidate they favour.

So I'm not surprised at all that Obama wouldn't be interested in further government service after he leaves office. He gets a pretty cushy pension and it's a virtual guarantee he'll get a lot of nice comfortable book deals and speaking appearances, that kind of thing, so there's no real financial incentive either.

Now Michelle I could see getting a government position, but what qualifications she might have other than 'former First Lady' I don't recall. Isn't she a lawyer too or something?

[Prannon]

Just for the record, there is a very old and single example of an ex president serving as a justice on the Supreme Court.

[Elheru Aran]

Just for the record, there is a very old and single example of an ex president serving as a justice on the Supreme Court.

That's a fair point. By all accounts IIRC he was happier being there than as President. He had somewhat of a stronger foundation for appointment than Obama though, as he was already a Federal Judge before he went into politics, and Obama was only a lawyer as far as I know. Not that that's much of an obstacle, Thurgood Marshall got appointed without being a judge IIRC either.

[General Zod]

Just for the record, there is a very old and single example of an ex president serving as a justice on the Supreme Court.

That's a fair point. By all accounts IIRC he was happier being there than as President. He had somewhat of a stronger foundation for appointment than Obama though, as he was already a Federal Judge before he went into politics, and Obama was only a lawyer as far as I know. Not that that's much of an obstacle, Thurgood Marshall got appointed without being a judge IIRC either.

There's no formal list of qualifications for the Supreme Court so a lot of it boils down to the President's discretion. Obama does have a background in constitutional law though.

[Broomstick]

Now Michelle I could see getting a government position, but what qualifications she might have other than 'former First Lady' I don't recall. Isn't she a lawyer too or something?

Yes, Ms. Obama is a lawyer, Harvard graduate - she actually has a doctorate in law - and used to work for the large, national law firm Sidley Austin. She also worked for Chicago Mayor Richard M. Daley and the University of Chicago Medical Center.

She actually had a pretty nice career while Barrack was getting his feet wet as a politician, basically supported the family during the early years until his career took off.

[MKSheppard]

The biggest risk associated with this is what scholars politely call a "constitutional crisis." We're already skating on the edge of one thanks to the past five years of congressional obstructionism- persistent inability to pass a budget

That problem kind of did start when Congress was D controlled, so...

[Tribble]

That problem kind of did start when Congress was D controlled, so...

IIRC the moment Obama was elected the Republicans tried to obstruct things as much as possible. A Democratic majority doesn't mean all that much if they don't have the numbers the thwart a filibuster.

[Edi]

Indeed. Just google the number of filibusters against Obama. Everything, no matter how minor, was filibustered by the Republicans.

[amigocabal]

That problem kind of did start when Congress was D controlled, so...

IIRC the moment Obama was elected the Republicans tried to obstruct things as much as possible. A Democratic majority doesn't mean all that much if they don't have the numbers the thwart a filibuster.

They had a filibuster-proof majority in 2009.

[amigocabal]

... or totally capitulates and appoints a conservative to get something through the Senate.

Given Obama's habit of punting on 1st down, I'd bet my money on this option.

He has zero reason to do so though. He is coasting home, no elections left for him, has no big donors to appease, nothing to worry about but his legacy, which would not be strengthened by a conservative SCOTUS judge. It would just be bizarre for him to do so.

Which is why that nominating Ninth Circuit Judge Alex Kozinski would be a good idea for him. Because of Kozinski's opinion in the denial of rehearing in Silveira v. Lockyer, 328 F.3d 567, 568-570 (9th Cir. 2003) (Kozinski, J., dissenting from denial of rehearing en banc), the gun rights lobby will at most withdraw any support for blocking Kozinski from being confirmed, and enough Republicans would jump ship and press to confirm. The only Democrats who would oppose Kozinski's nomination are those who have a pathological hatred for the Second Amendment.

[Elheru Aran]

That problem kind of did start when Congress was D controlled, so...

IIRC the moment Obama was elected the Republicans tried to obstruct things as much as possible. A Democratic majority doesn't mean all that much if they don't have the numbers the thwart a filibuster.

They had a filibuster-proof majority in 2009.

Didn't stop the Republicans from doing what they could to obstruct Obama. That was their stated intention and nothing really shows they didn't try their damnedest to come through with it.

[Civil War Man]

That problem kind of did start when Congress was D controlled, so...

IIRC the moment Obama was elected the Republicans tried to obstruct things as much as possible. A Democratic majority doesn't mean all that much if they don't have the numbers the thwart a filibuster.

They had a filibuster-proof majority in 2009.

Only on paper. The negotiations for early legislation was less about trying to appease the Republicans (who were fairly open about how they were not negotiating in good faith) and more about trying to appease conservative Democrats who threatened to support Republican filibusters if their demands weren't met.

[Knife]

IIRC the moment Obama was elected the Republicans tried to obstruct things as much as possible. A Democratic majority doesn't mean all that much if they don't have the numbers the thwart a filibuster.

They had a filibuster-proof majority in 2009.

Only on paper. The negotiations for early legislation was less about trying to appease the Republicans (who were fairly open about how they were not negotiating in good faith) and more about trying to appease conservative Democrats who threatened to support Republican filibusters if their demands weren't met.

Indeed, the blue dog Dems, which since then have mostly been destroyed and replaced in their states with GOPers, tried to pander to the right to stay in office and were rejecting a lot of the agenda. The Dems has 61 on paper only.

[Terralthra]

I'm still trying to figure out why amigocabal is so hung up on the NRA. Has anyone said that's the issue? At all? Congress's Republican majorities have been doing their best to obstruct pretty much all of President Obama's agenda since they came into the majority, and in many cases before that. I don't get the obsession on gun control now, suddenly.

[amigocabal]

I'm still trying to figure out why amigocabal is so hung up on the NRA. Has anyone said that's the issue? At all? Congress's Republican majorities have been doing their best to obstruct pretty much all of President Obama's agenda since they came into the majority, and in many cases before that. I don't get the obsession on gun control now, suddenly.

The gun rights lobby is the only lobby with sufficient motivation and power to get the Senate to block Obama's nominee (which is why a nomination of Alex Kozinski would eliminate that motivation.)

[Napoleon the Clown]

I'm still trying to figure out why amigocabal is so hung up on the NRA. Has anyone said that's the issue? At all? Congress's Republican majorities have been doing their best to obstruct pretty much all of President Obama's agenda since they came into the majority, and in many cases before that. I don't get the obsession on gun control now, suddenly.

The gun rights lobby is the only lobby with sufficient motivation and power to get the Senate to block Obama's nominee (which is why a nomination of Alex Kozinski would eliminate that motivation.)

The GOP has said they won't accept anyone. There have been threats of filibuster regardless of who Obama nominates. Because the GOP has gone full obstructionist. It isn't about getting someone agreeable, it's about spiting Obama because the Tea Party - a group of petty little pissbabies - have seized far more control of Congress as a whole than any sane person is comfortable with. And the Tea Party is pissed that a black Democrat with a furrin' soundin' name is POTUS.

You cannot reason with them. They will not cease stomping their feat and holding their breath like a three year old that wants another cookie. There is no "who will they accept." There is only "will they pass out and let the adults run the country."

[Terralthra]

I'm still trying to figure out why amigocabal is so hung up on the NRA. Has anyone said that's the issue? At all? Congress's Republican majorities have been doing their best to obstruct pretty much all of President Obama's agenda since they came into the majority, and in many cases before that. I don't get the obsession on gun control now, suddenly.

The gun rights lobby is the only lobby with sufficient motivation and power to get the Senate to block Obama's nominee (which is why a nomination of Alex Kozinski would eliminate that motivation.)

Repeating yourself with no evidence does not constitute an argument. Try again.

[Zaune]

Well, he's picked a candidate.

And boy are the Republicans going to be pissed.

[The Romulan Republic]

Um... maybe I'm misunderstanding this, but if he's trying to appoint a Justice without Senate approval by executive action, isn't that flagrantly illegal?

I love a good fuck you to the Republicans as much as the next guy, but this seems like pretty much the one thing he could do to make the Republicans come out of this looking like the good guys to the electorate.

But these quotes, taken from the article...

"Hussain is a Muslim and a sympathizer, just like Obama, and now he takes over the legacy the great Antonin Scalia left behind. The President should be ashamed of himself."- Donald "Mini-Hitler" Trump.

"Appointing a Muslim to replace Scalia is absolutely appalling."-Bitch McConnell.

They're not even bothering with pretence. This is naked bigotry in defiance of the Constitution.

Fuck the Republican Party, or as I prefer to call it, the Fascist Party of America.

Edit: Okay, I did some digging, and I can't find one other source that corroborates this. I more or less assumed that it wasn't a fake news story because of the abc logo, but everything else I find has Obama appointing Rashid Hussein as United States Special Envoy and Coordinator for Strategic Counterrorism Communications:

www.stat.gov/r/pa/prs/ps/2015/02/237585.htm

We are pleased to announce the appointment of Rashad Hussain as United States Special Envoy and Coordinator for Strategic Counterterrorism Communications. Special Envoy Hussain will lead a staff drawn from a number of U.S. departments and agencies to expand international engagement and partnerships to counter violent extremism and to develop strategic counterterrorism communications around the world. As part of this role, Special Envoy Hussain will also serve as Coordinator of the Center for Strategic Counterterrorism Communications, which was established at the direction of the President and former Secretary of State Clinton in 2010 and codified by President Obama's Executive Order 13584 to coordinate, orient, and inform government-wide strategic communications focused on violent extremists and terrorist organizations.

Since 2010, Special Envoy Hussain has served as U.S. Special Envoy to the Organization for Islamic Cooperation (OIC), a role in which he has worked with the OIC, Muslim-majority countries, and civil society to deepen and expand engagement on U.S. policy and build partnerships with Muslim communities around the world.

Mr. Hussain was previously Deputy Associate Counsel to President Obama, focusing on national security, new media, and science and technology issues. He has also served as Director for Global Engagement at the National Security Council and as a Special Assistant United States Attorney in Washington, D.C., where he prosecuted criminal cases.

In 2009, Mr. Hussain worked with the National Security Council in developing and pursuing the New Beginning that President Obama outlined in his address in Cairo, Egypt. Before joining the White House, Mr. Hussain was a member of the legal staff for the Presidential Transition Team. Mr. Hussain previously served as a Trial Attorney at the U.S. Department of Justice. Earlier in his career, Mr. Hussain was a legislative assistant on the House Judiciary Committee, where he focused on national security-related issues.

Mr. Hussain received his J.D. from Yale Law School, where he served as an editor of the Yale Law Journal. Upon graduation, he served as a Law Clerk to Damon J. Keith on the U.S. Court of Appeals. Mr. Hussain also earned his Master’s degrees in Public Administration (Kennedy School of Government) and Arabic and Islamic Studies from Harvard University. He attended college at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. His academic writings have focused on national security, constitutional law, and civil liberties.

In January 2013, Mr. Hussain received the Distinguished Honor Award which is given for "exceptionally outstanding service to the agencies of the U.S. Government resulting in achievements of marked national or international significance."

So, either you fooled me (in which case, congratulations) or you were fooled (in which case, my condolences). Or something very odd is going on here.

[Elheru Aran]

Well, he's picked a candidate.

And boy are the Republicans going to be pissed.

I'm not seeing more than 2 articles on that so far, both with the same text, so I'd hold off on that for a day or two.

[TimothyC]

Well, he's picked a candidate.

And boy are the Republicans going to be pissed.

Look at the domain again.

[Borgholio]

That link brought up a virus warning with my MS Endpoint Security.

[General Zod]

It's a spoofed URL and you shouldn't click on it.